Taped by WGBH Forum Network, journalist Glenn Greenwald was joined by linguist Noam Chomsky at First Parish Church in Cambridge to discuss Edward Snowden, the U.S. National Security Agency, and the United States as a surveillance state. Greenwald discusses how the story evolved including his first meeting with Edward Snowden, how the documents were obtained, and how they decided the story was going to come out.


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Noam Chomsky (born on December 7, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historical essayist, social critic, and political activist. Sometimes called "the father of modern linguistics", Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy and one of the founders of the field of cognitive science. He is a Laureate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Arizona and an Institute Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and is the author of more than 150 books. He has written and lectured widely on linguistics, philosophy, intellectual history, contemporary issues, and particularly international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. Chomsky has been a writer for Z projects since their earliest inception, and is a tireless supporter of our operations.

2 Comments

  1. george patterson on

    This was a brilliant lecture on “Edward Snowden and Mass Surveillance” by Glenn Greenwald and Noam Chomsky and interview with them that really exposes the lies, deceit, deception, dishonesty, manipulation, and violation of people’s right of privacy through global mass surveillance. It is true that they are doing this to a great extent maintain and extend their power not only at the expense of millions of American at home and abroad but also at the expense of millions of people throughout the world, including foreign leaders and diplomats. This unjustified, illegal and immoral surveillance has also been expanded by the US government to foreign embassies in at least one country in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, this illicit, brazen covert activity has been going on for a very long time in a very indiscriminate manner even against its own allies in which its purpose is to maintain and further its power politically, economically, diplomatically, and militarily. Maybe this US government has extended this unwarranted and unnecessary surveillance to foreign embassies in other countries in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. This unacceptable, illegal , and immoral mass surveillance has spiraled out of control globally. We must demonstrate collectively and individually our utmost determination and courage to oppose it and to refuse to be intimidated by the power of the state that would threaten and attempt to coerce and silence us.

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